Studying Manufacturing Technology

Today's jobs in manufacturing are exciting, demanding, and rewarding careers. While manufacturers still need production workers, those careers make up only a small portion of the available jobs. With the introduction of advanced technology, manufacturing jobs are clean, automated, and complex.

According to the Alliance for American Manufacturing, manufacturing accounts for nearly eighty percent of all patents filed in the United States and nearly seventy-five percent of America's industrial research and development. The manufacturing sector generates approximately twelve percent of America's Gross Domestic Product, and maintains the United States' status as the largest manufacturing economy in the world. According to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), individuals employed in manufacturing earn approximately $75,000 per year, while individuals not employed in manufacturing earn only $63,000 per year.

Individuals considering job in manufacturing can pursue a number of different combinations of education, training, and experience. For high school students, the school's career and technology center provides the basic education required for entry-level manufacturing jobs . Many high schools offer dual accreditation, meaning that the student can attend class at a local community college, earning credits towards his high school diploma and his associate's degree. Mechatronics is especially popular with high school students. This field of study involves the use of robotics in manufacturing. Many of the repetitive and dangerous jobs have been rendered interesting and safe through the use of robotics. Keys skills include math, engineering, troubleshooting, problem solving, and mechanics. These skills are easily transferable between industries, making Mechatronics one of the hottest careers in manufacturing today.

Students who have completed high school may decide to pursue an Associate's Degree or one of the many certifications available through NAM's Manufacturing Institute. The National Career Readiness Certificate indicates to an employer that a potential employee possesses the essential competencies in reading, math, and locating information. These skills are essential at all levels of manufacturing. The American Welding Society monitors the Certified Welder Certificate process. The Manufacturing Skills Standards Council provides students with the opportunity to earn a Certified Production Technician certificate. The National Institute for Metalworking Skills certifies Machining and Metal forming employees. The Society of Manufacturing Engineers certifies Engineering Technicians.

Many manufacturing companies are eager to fill these positions, as the average age of a manufacturing employee is over fifty. Such companies often hire students with an Associate's Degree and then fund part of the student's continuing education through training and certification, allowing the student to earn and income while improving his skills.